Legislator demand Tarmizi's resignation

Legislator demand Tarmizi's resignation

SEMARANG, Central Java: A local legislator from the Moslem- oriented United Development Party demanded yesterday that Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher resign for his failure to seek a higher haj pilgrimage quota from Saudi Arabia.

Thoyfoer said that due to the failure to obtain a higher quota, a great number of prospective haj pilgrims from the province have had to cancel their departure.

Saudi Arabia has limited Indonesia's quota to 195,000 pilgrims for this year's season, despite more than 250,000 people having registered to go to Mecca. The remaining 55,000 have been put on the waiting list.

"Many (of those on the waiting list) are embarrassed because they have bid their relatives goodbye and now have to wait until next year," he said.

"If I were the minister, I would resign for the failure," he said. (har)